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CCNA Certification Exam Training Tutorial:

Cisco Lab Router And Switch FAQ

By Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933

The best CCNA certification training and CCNP exam prep is done in your own Cisco lab - it's just that simple. Since I began writing articles on Cisco labs, I've started getting dozens of emails every week from CCNA certification candidates who want to know how to get started, and from CCNP certification candidates wondering how to plan for the CCIE. Let's take a look at five of the most commonly asked questions concerning a home Cisco lab.

I get hundreds of emails every month from CCNA and CCNP candidate who are putting together their first lab or adding to their existing one. I'm always glad to help with suggestions, and I thought I'd list five common questions regarding home labs here.

How much do I have to spend on a CCNA-level Cisco lab? Thousands?

Absolutely not! You can search for used Cisco routers and CCNA certification kits on eBay and in your favorite search engine, and you'll quickly learn that good CCNA labs cost hundreds, not thousands. Don't forget, you can always sell it when you're done!

What's an access server?

Probably not what you think it is! : ) When I heard that term for the first time, I assumed it was some kind of Microsoft server. An access server is simply a Cisco router that has the physical capabilities to allow you to connect to all the other routers in your Cisco lab without continually moving the rollover cable from one router to another. It's not a necessity for CCNA certification training, but the more routers and switches you have, the more you'll enjoy having one. Do NOT spend a bundle on an access server - you can get a 2509 or 2511 for a reasonable price and they're perfectly suited for a home Cisco lab.

What's a frame relay switch?

For home Cisco lab purposes, a frame relay switch is not a switch; it's a Cisco router that has been configured to act as a frame relay switch. Having a frame relay switch in your home Cisco lab is a great way to prepare totally for CCNA certification. You can read more about frame relay switch configuration in my Cisco Lab Help section.

Do I need a Cisco switch? If so, what should I buy? How many do I need?

For total CCNA certification training, you're going to need at least one IOS-based switch. If you can get two, do it. Having two switches will allow you to get advanced practice with spanning tree protocol (STP), etherchannels, trunking, and more. If you stretch the budget anywhere, do it to buy a second switch.

I want to build my CCNP lab and then use it for the CCIE. What should I buy?

Someone called me "The King Of Home Cisco Labs" once, and it does reflect my philosophy toward the CCNA and CCNP exams. When it comes to the CCIE, though, I recommend you spend your money renting CCIE rack time from online vendors rather than purchasing a full-blown CCIE lab.

Don't get me wrong, hands-on is definitely the key to CCIE success; you can't possibly pass the exam without it. Cisco's very aggressive when it comes to changing the hardware requirements for the CCIE lab, and equipment that may be great for practice in February may not be any good in August. (I use those months as examples, but Cisco does update the CCIE blueprint every six months, and that can include major changes in equipment.)

You can certainly get good home practice with a home Cisco CCIE lab, but odds are that you're going to have to spend at least some time renting online access to a CCIE-level rack.

On that subject, don't wait until you're studying for the CCIE exam before getting hands-on practice in your own Cisco lab. Both your CCNA certification efforts and CCNP study will benefit greatly from working with real Cisco routers and switches, and so will your information technology career!

Five Minutes From Now, You Can Be Studying For Exam Success Just As Thousands Of Other Candidates Around The World Have - With Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933 With You Every Step Of The Way - With The Ultimate CCNA Exam Study Package!

If You Prefer Video Training, You Can Earn Your CCNA Using My Exclusive CCNA Video Boot Camp - The Only CBT That Brings You 25 Hours Of Instruction From Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, AND Free Membership In My Exclusive Online Cisco Certification Forum, Where You Can The Instructor Questions Personally!

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